Review: 76940 T. rex Dinosaur Fossil Exhibition
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO Jurassic World provides various exclusive dinosaurs and these are consistently appealing. Unfortunately, new dinosaurs are omitted from the current range. 76940 T. rex Dinosaur Fossil Exhibition appears enjoyable though, featuring an impressive skeleton.
The uniformity between the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and standard LEGO dinosaurs is excellent, maintaining almost identical dimensions and proportions. The construction techniques seem relatively simple, but are effective, while the accompanying baby Triceratops is welcome, exhibiting unique sand blue and tan colours.
Minifigures
Unsurprisingly, Owen Grady appears in almost every Jurassic World set, typically wearing his distinct sleeveless jacket. This minifigure accordingly remains identical to examples from 2018, but looks splendid. The double-sided head includes accurate facial hair with fitting expressions and Owen's torso displays extensive detail. Intricate printing continues on the hips and legs.
Darius, by contrast, incorporates two new components. This minifigure is shared with 76942 Baryonyx Dinosaur Boat Escape and wears a bright yellow jacket which looks attractive. The necklace also appears superb, displaying a dinosaur tooth. Darius' head features smiling and frightened expressions which are unique, further broadening the selection of different reddish brown heads.
75939 Dr. Wu's Lab: Baby Dinosaurs Breakout introduced an adorable infant Triceratops and another such dinosaur appears here. However, the original olive green and tan colour scheme has been replaced with sand blue and tan. I prefer the other colours, but appreciate the unique aesthetic on this occasion.
Moreover, the dual-moulding looks perfect and incorporates the distinct white beak and horns which characterise Triceratops. The textured frill also looks excellent, accompanied by printed sand blue splotches on the belly and legs, while this animal includes a matching 1x2 brick and 1x2 tile at the centre of its body. These can be removed to accommodate minifigures.
The Completed Model
Dinosaur fossils have appeared in previous LEGO sets, memorably including 21320 Dinosaur Fossils. This example is substantially simpler than its predecessor though, lacking the intricate bone structure and texture. Nevertheless, I think the model looks superb, integrating numerous important and recognisable features from actual Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons.
This skeleton measures 29cm in length, while the standard LEGO Tyrannosaurus rex reaches 28cm long. Such consistency between the two dinosaurs is outstanding and one can definitely imagine this skeleton fitting inside the living T. rex, despite their subtle differences in scale. The relative proportions between them also match reasonably well, although their feet vary.
Of course, the most notable consistency between them is the head. Brick-building the skeletal structure could have been successful, but the decoration here is excellent too, assuring ample differences between the fossil and its living equivalent. I love the printed fenestrae in particular, while the separate jaw component enables the same motion as the normal Tyrannosaurus rex.
The neck and arms are articulated too, while the ribs are secured using clips. More than three ribs would have been advantageous and there is comfortably room for another pair, although I understand the wish to maintain simplicity. The black elements underneath create an attractive impression of shadow, but the neighbouring black click hinges appear awkward.
Fortunately, the colour scheme is otherwise fairly uniform. Tan and white pieces are combined and they seem reasonable together, as though certain sections of the skeleton are fossil casts while gaps are filled using another material. Furthermore, some recognisable bones are visible here, including the distinctive pelvis and several tail vertebrae. Of course, many more vertebrae would constitute a genuine skeleton, but this permits sufficient articulation.
Two joints are also located on each leg, providing a satisfying range of motion. These colours appear inconsistent, although I consider this excusable behind the feet because real dinosaur skeletons require additional support and these commonly present contrasting colours. Despite its articulation, this model features an elegant base, correctly identifying the Tyrannosaurus rex as dwelling across North America between 68 and 66 million years ago.
The plaque includes a sticker and another is applied on this whiteboard, featuring a T.rex skull. The sketched styling appears realistic and various accessories surround the board, including a tooth, some vegetation and an egg. The reddish brown pointer and lamp also look splendid, but the simulated wheels beneath this cart seem somewhat disappointing.
Overall
76940 T. rex Dinosaur Fossil Exhibition represents an interesting departure from earlier LEGO Jurassic World sets. Despite comprising relatively simple construction techniques, this skeletal dinosaur includes great detail and the proportions correspond almost perfectly with the existing LEGO Tyrannosaurus rex. In fact, the basic structure complements minifigure skeletons, which are comparably simple.
The exclusive infant Triceratops is a welcome addition too, alongside Owen and Darius. I think the price of £27.99 or $29.99 feels slightly too expensive, although various larger elements are present. Maybe another minifigure would have ensured fair value. Nevertheless, I am delighted with this surprising model and would certainly recommend it to Jurassic World fans.
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32 comments on this article
Love the new head! Any chance Brickset could do a comparative study of how many heads are available in each realistic flesh color? Especially seeing how many female heads there are in non-medium-nougat would be very interesting.
I got this set as a gift a short while ago and imo it's excellent. Didn't think much of it when I saw pictures, but now that I have it, it's brilliant!
Good review; nice to see the skeleton next to the normal LEGO T-rex.
As pointed out the skeleton could have used another pair of ribs,
but otherwise a very good set, in my opinion.
Oh, also: I would rather have had a Claire Dearing minifig.
@YanVanLan said:
"Good review; nice to see the skeleton next to the normal LEGO T-rex.
As pointed out the skeleton could have used another pair of ribs,
but otherwise a very good set, in my opinion.
Oh, also: I would rather have had a Claire Dearing minifig."
Maybe they didn't find the final pair of ribs just yet, so left it off the museum display for the time being?
Good review, fun set. My nephew is still crazy about dinosaurs, guess what he's gonna get from Sinterklaas this year...
Does the horse saddle element say from the Friends line fit on that baby triceratops? Like maybe you could create it as a mount for part of a barbarian horde?
Umm, asking for a friend.
@PixelTheDragon said:
" Maybe they didn't find the final pair of ribs just yet, so left it off the museum display for the time being? "
Good thinking! And thanks,
now you have me looking for those ribs in every JW set that's released from now on...
I kinda want to get this set just for the head, It would go great for a skull crawler MOC from Kong: skull island.
I love this! It looks like a lot for $30, honestly. You could also pretend it’s a skeleton dinosaur roaming around on it’s own! Roar!
It’s no non-licensed Castle, but this looks fun!
I’ll definitely get it and it is priced well. My son will love it in his Dino collection. However, some of the build certainly could have been better. The rectangular plates at the thighs really does not look good. I think they should have used molded hands instead of the clips also.
@ohrmazd said:
"Does the horse saddle element say from the Friends line fit on that baby triceratops? Like maybe you could create it as a mount for part of a barbarian horde?
Umm, asking for a friend. "
I do not own the Friends saddle, unfortunately, but the Castle saddle fits when an additional 1x2 plate is placed underneath.
The fearsome Triceratops cavalry is definitely possible!
LEGO fans: We want a Super Mario minifigure!
LEGO: We have a Mario minifigure at home.
At home: This same old reused Chris Pratt minifigure
CapnRex reviewing T-Rex.
Fitting.
;-)
@CapnRex101 said:
"The fearsome Triceratops cavalry is definitely possible!"
Whoops. I read that as carvery... also definitely possible!
so cool seeing a mario figure at long last!
all jokes aside, this set looks pretty cool, and I may eventually get it
I really love this and the 21320 sets for their museum display aesthetic! However, $30 for a 200 piece set is a poor way to treat customers. I love the baby anky (and have the first version already) but I'd just as soon they left it out of this set and sold it for $20. Hopefully I can get it cheaper from Amazon or Walmart after they rollback the price in six months.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @ohrmazd said:
"Does the horse saddle element say from the Friends line fit on that baby triceratops? Like maybe you could create it as a mount for part of a barbarian horde?
Umm, asking for a friend. "
I do not own the Friends saddle, unfortunately, but the Castle saddle fits when an additional 1x2 plate is placed underneath.
The fearsome Triceratops cavalry is definitely possible!"
The Friends saddle will not fit, as it has a 2x2 base, and the slot in the triceratops figure is 1x2 studs in area.
I am so getting this soon...
@graymattr said:
"I really love this and the 21320 sets for their museum display aesthetic! However, $30 for a 200 piece set is a poor way to treat customers. I love the baby anky (and have the first version already) but I'd just as soon they left it out of this set and sold it for $20. Hopefully I can get it cheaper from Amazon or Walmart after they rollback the price in six months."
You mean triceratops? Also, I think it’s a good price for the set, those molded Dino pieces are worth a lot and this head mold is no exception
“ 75939 Dr. Wu's Lab: Baby Dinosaurs Breakout introduced an adorable infant Triceratops and another such dinosaur appears here. However, the original sand green and tan colour scheme has been replaced with sand blue and tan. I prefer the other colours, but appreciate the unique aesthetic on this occasion.”
The triceratops in 75939 is olive green. The ankylosaurus is sand green. Thanks for the review!
Such cool idea for a set! I really wish we could get rest of Lego dinos fossilized like that!
I <3 this set
@BulbaNerd4000 said:
"I love this! It looks like a lot for $30, honestly. You could also pretend it’s a skeleton dinosaur roaming around on it’s own! Roar!"
Zombie Dinosaur Halloween Special - let's make it happen!
Nice little set for young and old dinosaur lovers, buy it with a small discount, tho. :)
The price is a bit high, though what saves it for me is the inclusion of the cute baby dino. Without that, it would have been an easy pass.
What I don't like about it is the flimsy attachment of skeleton to pedestal; stuck on only the centre studs of two 2x2 jumper tiles. It all too easily rests with a slight twist, and falls off if you try to move it anywhere. It's not as if it's expected to come to life and walk off - they don't have the rights to 'Night at the Museum'! I'd much prefer it to be a more permanent attachment.
To be honest, I think the colour scheme here looks terrible. The black would have been fine if it wasn't for the leg joints. The white seems to be used with no rhyme or reason and is waaay too bright for its use alongside the tan and dark tan.
Then there's details like the elbows and knees being stuck in an unnatural 90 degree angle. And most importantly the holes in the head being far too small, especially towards the back. I mean, just look at their own drawing of a T-rex skull on the whiteboard!!!
Due to its look this went from a must-have to a meh for me. A Lego T-rex skeleton sounds way more exiting than what this set actually delivers on.
And finally... what is the playability here? Besides having the baby triceratops knock stuff over and maybe having the skeleton brought to life, what do you even do with it besides displaying it? As an adult I would of course not have too much of an issue with this, but it just bothers me. The set just feels incomplete because of this.
"In fact, the basic structure complements minifigure skeletons, which are comparably simple."
Especeially since they, too, don't have as many ribs as they ought to.
@Binnekamp said:
"And finally... what is the playability here? Besides having the baby triceratops knock stuff over and maybe having the skeleton brought to life, what do you even do with it besides displaying it? As an adult I would of course not have too much of an issue with this, but it just bothers me. The set just feels incomplete because of this."
My 4-year-old son, who is a BIG fan of dinosaurs, is sooooo excited to get this set. He regularly disassembles his LEGO dinosaurs to make "fossils" that can be excavated/discovered by his minifigures, and the printed T-Rex skull might be his favorite LEGO item ever.
I was torn on this set. I think overall it looks decent enough. $30 worth? Not sure yet. I don't necessarily need the figures, which is what I primarily base purchases on, to this has to stand on its own.
The skeleton looks good overall. The colors work relatively well, but can be jarring in places thanks to available colors. The head of course looks neat and it makes sense they printed it instead of brick building it. But do I need another T-Rex head?
Thanks for the review. You've given me something to think about.
It's a fun set! I modified it to have less black and more ribs. Still working on the feet
@lost_scotsman said:
" @BulbaNerd4000 said:
"I love this! It looks like a lot for $30, honestly. You could also pretend it’s a skeleton dinosaur roaming around on it’s own! Roar!"
Zombie Dinosaur Halloween Special - let's make it happen!"
The original Night at the Museum film had such a living T. Rex skeleton. Even had a loose rib for you to throw for it to retrieve like a giant dog. Maybe, it's missing a rib for that reason, as the Dino hasn't found it yet and Rexy has to get back into the normal museum position before sun-rise!
...this begs the question though, if PART of the Dino were outside when the sun came up, would the whole dinosaur disintegrate into dust, or just the offending rib?